Question
I am planning to build a dog ramp from the floor to the bed; I have small dachshunds who insist on being on the bed (older dogs, prior owners, and they keep us warm at night). Dachshunds are prone to back problems; they shouldn't be jumping and their stair usage should be minimized. We keep them in the bedroom when they are alone.
The bed top is 2.5 feet off the floor. I plan to build the ramp with wood and use a carpet lining on the actual ramp part of it; alternate ideas include using mild sandpaper or a towel folded every few inches for gripping.
I am building the ramp outward, not along the side of the bed. I don't want the ramp to intrude too far into the room, but I know that a 45-degree angle or higher is much too steep.
Answer
We have a Chihuahua cross breed that is probably around the same size as a Dachshund that manages to climb up into a cubby house via the ramp. I've just measured the angle as 30 degrees and I get the impression from seeing him that if much steeper he'd find it difficult. That ramp is constructed from semi-circular pine wood.
For a height of 2.5 feet that would extend 4.3 feet out from the bed and require 5 feet of material. Depending on the construction of the bed maybe you could take a look at making it fairly light weight and use hooks so that it's nice and easy to stow away when not required.
Answered By - PeterJ